A lot has happened since May, when the last cross-country skiers in the Callaghan Valley stepped out of their bindings and turned their minds to summer activities. With the Olympics and Paralympics in the record books, work has been going on behind the scenes to create a lasting legacy at Whistler Olympic Park and make it a place capable of hosting the top athletes in the world, a destination for the growing Nordic skiing market, and the centre of activity for a larger Nordic community that stretches across Sea to Sky and beyond.
"There's a lot of changes, and we're going to be working harder and harder to ensure that we become the leading (Nordic) ski resort in North America," said Lindsay Scott Durno, the director of Whistler Olympic Park on behalf of Whistler 2010 Sport Legacies Society.
Visitors to the park are going to notice a lot of changes this year. The most obvious one is the fact that Whistler Olympic Park and Callaghan Country will no longer exist as separate entities. Instead, they have formed an agreement that results in a single resort with over 90 kilometres of groomed cross-country trails - including the high alpine trails at Callaghan Country that are the first to open and last to close in the region. This year the opening day is Nov. 13. Closing day is May 1 for the highest Callaghan Country trails. If the snow arrives on time and sticks around as long as usual, that means almost six months of Nordic skiing.
The new area has been branded as Ski Callaghan, as the lines between the two resorts have been completely erased. Whistler Olympic Park will be handling all of the grooming and ski patrol for Callaghan Country, while Callaghan Country's backcountry lodge - still managed separately - will be booking guests through the cross-country day lodge.
Most of the parking areas have been closed, including the Callaghan Country lot, leaving one parking lot for cross-country and a small lot for biathlon. There is a single point of entry for all visitors to the area, whether they're skiing, snowshoeing or just there for the day.
The remaining parking areas, Scott Durno explained, will not be plowed but instead pressed into service as ski areas; only two of six lots remain open for vehicles. Most of the lots will form a new flat and open trail called Never Ever, which features a roughly five km loop for people who are absolute beginners to Nordic skiing, giving them a place to practice their skills and take lessons.
The large parking area near the ski jumps is being converted into a play park with bumps, dips, berms and small jumps for people to play on - similar to what a pump track or trials park would be for mountain bikes.
Scott Durno also explained that the trails themselves are being reconfigured.
"A lot of trails in the past have been one-way only, and part of the problem with being an Olympic centre is we've got some difficult ski terrain," he said. "We're rearranging the competition trails in a manner that they can be skied more easily, so you don't have to climb uphill for 20 minutes at the start. A lot of trails are going to be two-way trails.
"I think when the first skiers come it's going to be quite exciting to see how they react to what we've done."
One of the unique features at Whistler Olympic Park has always been the dog loop, where people can ski alongside their dogs. Durno says that has changed as well.
"We'll still be having it, but we've taken our area up to Top of the World, and we've taken a carver shack from below Decision Point and moved the structure up there. The view up there on a sunny day is one of the nicest views of Black Tusk looking down the Callaghan Valley," he said.
Other trails will also converge on the area, including snowshoe trails. There will also be a fire pit area to get warm.
"It will give people who come here for the winter experience a far better idea of what we have to offer up here in the Callaghan," said Durno.
Last week Durno and John Heilig, Whistler 2010 Sport Legacies' (W2010SL) director for sport, met with representatives from 10 Nordic ski clubs in the region, all of which have committed to using the Ski Callaghan facilities for programming and events this winter.
While the clubs have used the trails and facilities in the past, Durno says there are more benefits now that the Games have wrapped up.
"Part of the legacy from the Games is that we've received 35 wax cabins left over from the Olympics, and so we've strategically placed them through the site," said Durno. "They are primarily there for use as wax cabins during events but on non-event days the clubs will have somewhere they can call home.
"We've also turned our multifunction room at the cross-country building over for club use, which will be open on the weekends. That will basically be a club room, so instead of coming to the day lodge with busloads of luggage and ski bags the club skiers will be able to dump all that stuff in there and access more easily."
While the cross-country legacy is based on the trails and facilities, W2010SL is also working on creating lasting legacies for biathlon and ski jumping.
For example, the biathlon range will be open to the public during regular hours to give skiers and other members of the public an opportunity to test their skills at the range. Ski Callaghan will also be offering 1.5-hour tours for beginners and experienced skiers that incorporate the biathlon trails and range.
A Biathlon Bears program targetted to youth will also be taking place on weekends over the winter, although the B.C. Biathlon program fell through due to funding cuts.
There are no plans yet to use the ski jumps, although there is a chance that the facility will host the national championships at the end of the season. In the meantime, a series of smaller jumps are being created for a grass roots jumping program that will draw more kids into the sport.
As well, a snowboarding big air competition is looking at hosting an event on the site towards the end of the season - similar to big air events held across Europe with artificial run-ins and steep landing slopes.
Ski Callaghan will be handling its own rentals and lessons this winter. The contract to provide catering at venues was won by André Saint-Jacques of the Bear Foot Bistro. They have also formed an agreement with a Squamish-based tour operator to provide shuttle service from Whistler hotels to Whistler Olympic Park through the winter season, and may add additional bus service if there is enough demand.
As well, the shower facilities in the day lodge will be available for public and club use this year. Trailers have allowed the park to offer lockers to skiers.
The Ski Callaghan calendar is also filling out, with training camps for biathlon and cross-country, a loppet, three Coast Cup events (sponsored by Hollyburn, Whistler Nordics and Pemberton Spud Valley clubs respectively), the Canadian ski jumping national championships (not confirmed), and other events ranging from Whistler Nordics Twoonie nights to masters biathlon races and clinics.
According to Whistler Nordics president Tom Barratt, Ski Callaghan opens up a lot of new possibilities for the club.
"I think we're moving away from all the growth and preparation for the Olympics... and now we're just evolving into a good, solid club with a solid athlete development program," he said.
"For Calgary, their Nordic legacy (from the 1988 Games) were in Canmore, but for us the legacy is really close at hand. Not many communities have a legacy like this, and it's bound to affect the club in a lot of positive ways. It's a world-class facility and all the top athletes in Canada come through here, which is something that would not have a happened before. How can you not be inspired by that?"
Early bird passes for Ski Callaghan are available, with early bird pricing in effect until Nov. 15. A dual area pass, which includes over 30 km of trails at Lost Lake, is also available.
The cost for a Ski Callaghan pass is $225 for adults, $135 for youth and $113 for children aged 6 to 12, with almost identical prices for Lost Lake. Family passes are $450, which includes two adults and up to two children.
Dual area passes start at $339 for adults, $205 for youth, $168 for children and $678 for families, going up after Nov. 15.
Ski Callaghan passes are available by picking up an application form at www.whistlerolympicpark.com, or you can purchase a pass by phone at 604-964-0060. Dual area passes and Lost Lake passes are available at Meadow Park Sports Centre.
